Borrol Lookout Park, Yarrabilba

Connecting Country and community

Borrol Lookout has just opened at Yarrabilba. It is the newest park in this master-planned community located in Brisbane’s south.

Property developer Lendlease engaged RPS to design a park that connected residents to the natural environment, open spaces and cultural heritage.

Through collaboration with First Nations groups, RPS designed a park that respects the existing sense of place, celebrates Country by retelling First Nations stories, and encourages visitors to embrace the natural surroundings and learn about the site’s heritage.

Park design and delivery

RPS’ principal landscape architect had a clear vision for Borrol Lookout Park:

“To share Country with the community through retelling the Yugambeh story of Bingingerra; and, to create a park that retains the existing vegetation, protects the rock face, and celebrates the view to the mountains.”

With that in mind, the team took inspiration from the site’s elevated location - the highest point in Yarrabilba - with 360-degree views and created a lookout experience.

When designing the playground, the team worked with the exiting landforms and vegetation lines to create a play space that is nestled into the tress. The play pieces focus on nature play and utilise local hardwood timbers, with a local artist carving characters into totems, balancing beams and stepping logs.

Through carved totems, storybook plaques and equipment, stories of local significance are found throughout the playground to encourage learning and discovery. A reflective space has been incorporated on the edge of the site’s rocky outcrop, where songs and music would have been heard from a nearby ceremonial ground. The playground also has handball courts and kickabout spaces for active activities. 

Our landscape designers worked with RPS' town planning, urban design and advisory teams, as well as Eureka Landscapes to deliver the new community park.